{"id":19024,"date":"2022-04-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion5-april-2022"},"modified":"2022-04-05T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-5-april-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-5-april-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion\u00a05 April 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

St Luke 21: 5 – 28<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,  \u2018As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.\u2019  They asked him, \u2018Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?\u2019  And he said, \u2018Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, \u201cI am he!\u201d and, \u201cThe time is near!\u201d  Do not go after them.  \u2018When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.\u2019 Then he said to them, \u2018Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;  there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.  \u2018But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  You will be hated by all because of my name.  But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.  \u2018When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it;  for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfilment of all that is written.  Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people;  they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. \u2018There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see \u201cthe Son of Man coming in a cloud\u201d with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

 Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1939  leading Congregationalists sent out a letter \u2018To the ministers of Christ’s holy gospel in the churches of the Congregational Order\u2019 \u2013 it was urgent, passionate, and deeply felt.  It recognised the desperate state of our churches, \u201cshort of men (sic.) and money, but this is not our most serious need, for God is able to take the weak things of the world to confound the strong. Our dreadful weakness is religious. We are not declaring the Gospel with power to a dispirited and disillusioned age; we are not living in the discipline of Gospel fellowship.\u201d Ending with the challenge – \u201cWe are today calling ourselves to repent and to believe the good news of Jesus and the Resurrection\u2026. We seek to get in touch and to keep in touch with those who feel the burden of the day as we feel it, and who seek to know the incarnate and crucified Lord, the benefits of His Passion and the power of His Resurrection.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What followed? For many across the world, hellish years of the Second World War, poverty, and a changing world order. Their words were surely God-given to prepare Christ\u2019s followers to face whatever would come. Now we hear again of the parlous state our churches are in  – \u2018short of people and money,\u2019 but again it  is time to recognise our real desperate need is \u201cto know the incarnate and crucified Lord, the benefits of His Passion, and the power of His Resurrection\u201d in order to face a global pandemic and its aftermath, a world order in transition, and earth itself wounded by our abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus knew what was coming for his beloved city and his own race. It came to pass. Thank God his followers were prepared \u2013 they would suffer persecution, exile from their homeland, some even martyrdom. But \u201cby your endurance you will gain your souls\u201d They did, and we still can, until we see \u201cthe son of Man coming in a cloud\u201d Come Lord Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he lives I can face tomorrow;<\/span>
because he lives all fear is gone.<\/span>
Because I know he holds the future,<\/span>
and life is worth the living just because he lives\u201d**<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus, in political uncertainties, economic hardships, dangers of climate change, and abuse of human life, may I see you, finding the lost, serving those in need, transforming lives, embracing those unloved \u2013 because your Love is victorious \u2018til the end of time\u2019.  Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

*reprinted in \u201cThe Story of Congregationalism\u201d by Erik Routley, first published 1961<\/span>
** Hymn by Bill and Gloria Gaither<\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

St Luke 21: 5 – 28 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,  \u2018As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.\u2019  They asked him, … <\/p>\n

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